In winter Sharp-tailed Grouse often feed high in birch trees on the catkins.
Each winter one of the hard-to-find species in Washington State is the Sharp-tailed Grouse. They are on the state endangered list, and are protected from hunting. In addition large areas of grasslands are protected for their use. This winter I was lucky enough to find a pair of Sharp-tailed Grouse feeding high in trees that were nearly at the level of the road just uphill from them on a very steep hillside.
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On this same trip we managed to see 5 species of "chickens" including Gray Partridge, Chukar, Ruffed Grouse, Greater Sage Grouse and California Quail as well as the Sharp-tailed Grouse. This trip was our best ever trip for greatest number of gallinaceous species.
Chukar in the snow.
A Ruffed Grouse perched in a tree.
Good Birding. Steem on!